Law enforcement agents are in a standoff with a gunman holed up in a home in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, the regional Interior Ministry reported on Thursday.

"A 22-year-old suspected member of an illegal armed group has been cornered in a private home in the village of Endirei, Khasavyurt district," the statement said.

"Following negotiations in which his parents took part, the gunman first agreed to surrender voluntarily but then suddenly opened fire, wounding a police officer in the hand,” the statement said.

The gunfire continues. “Efforts are being made to re-establish communications with the militant,” it said.

Police believe the suspect is a member of a militant group, four of whose members were killed on the outskirts of the village in a separate operation on Tuesday.

“At present, two of the four deceased militants have been identified as Marat Kabarda and Amir Mahmudov, both residents of the village of Botashyurt. They joined the illegal armed group in August,” a spokesman said.